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Yejong of Joseon

This article is about the 8th monarch of the Joseon dynasty. For the 16th monarch of the Goryeo dynasty, see Yejong of Goryeo.

Yejong (Korean: 예종; Hanja: 睿宗; 23 January 1450 – 9 January 1470), personal name Yi Hwang (이황; 李晄), firstly titled Grand Prince Haeyang (해양대군; 海陽大君), was the eighth monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. He succeeded his father, King Sejo, in 1468, when he was 19 years old, but was too physically ill to govern, and died a year later.[1]

Yejong
예종
睿宗
King of Joseon
Reign22 September 1468 – 9 January 1470
EnthronementJungmun Gate, Sugang Palace, Hanseong
PredecessorSejo
SuccessorSeongjong
RegentQueen Jeonghui (1468–1470)
Crown Prince of Joseon
Reign29 September 1457 – 22 September 1468
PredecessorCrown Prince Uigyeong
SuccessorCrown Prince Yeonsan
Born(1450-01-23)23 January 1450
Grand Prince Suyang's Mansion, Hanseong, Joseon
Died9 January 1470(1470-01-09) (aged 19)
Jamidang Hall, Gyeongbokgung, Hanseong, Joseon
Burial
Changneung Mausoleum, Seooneung Cluster, Goyang, South Korea
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1460; died 1462)​
​
(m. 1463⁠–⁠1470)​
Issue
among others...		Seongjong of Joseon (adopted)
Names
Yi Hwang (이황; 李晄)
Posthumous name
  • Joseon: King Heummun Seongmu Uiin Sohyo the Great (흠문성무의인소효대왕; 欽文聖武懿仁昭孝大王)
  • Ming dynasty: Yangdo (양도; 襄悼)
Temple name
Yejong (예종; 睿宗)
ClanJeonju Yi
DynastyYi
FatherSejo of Joseon
MotherQueen Jeonghui
ReligionKorean Confucianism (Neo-Confucianism)
Korean name
Hangul
예종
Hanja
睿宗
Revised RomanizationYejong
McCune–ReischauerYechong
Birth name
Hangul
이황
Hanja
李晄
Revised RomanizationI Hwang
McCune–ReischauerI Hwang
Courtesy name
Hangul
명조 / 평남
Hanja
明照 / 平南
Revised RomanizationMyeongjo / Pyeongnam
McCune–ReischauerMyŏngjo / Pyŏngnam

One of the most prominent incidents during his reign was the trial and death of General Nam Yi, who was famous for having suppressed Yi Si-ae's Rebellion along with General Gang Sun. At the age of 28, Nam Yi was appointed as Minister of Military Affairs. However, when Yejong took the throne, Yu Ja-gwang, who was jealous of Nam Yi, accused him of treason when he found out that the king himself was not fond of the general. Yu also involved Gang Sun and initiated a trial witnessed by Yejong. They were found guilty and executed, while Yu Ja-gwang was promoted to a high office. After this incident, there were many cases where Yu accused ministers who were apparently more prestigious than himself.

Biography

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He was born in 1450 as the second son of Grand Prince Suyang (as King Sejo was known at the time) and his primary consort, Grand Internal Princess Consort Nakrang (later Queen Jeonghui). He was promoted to crown prince at the age of 7, after the sudden death of his elder brother, Crown Prince Uigyeong.

In 1468, his father abdicated, but since Yi Hwang was not yet 20 years old and had been physically weak since his childhood, his mother, Queen Dowager Jaseong, came to unofficially rule as Queen Regent for the nation instead. According to records of this era, political decisions were taken by the queen and three subjects nominated by King Sejo.

Although his reign lasted just 14 months, several incidents had occurred. In 1468, the treason of Nam I greatly influenced the court politics. Just before his death in 1469, Joseon started to prohibit all trade with Japan. Yi Hwang also granted common farmers the right to cultivate fields which originally belonged to the military.

He died shortly before his 20th birthday and was buried alongside his second wife, Queen Ansun, in the Seooneung Cluster located in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.[2] Their tomb is known as Changneung (창릉).[3]

After Yejong's death, the throne was not inherited by his son. Instead, his nephew and the second son of Crown Prince Uigyeong, Grand Prince Jalsan, became the heir and was posthumously honored as King Seongjong.[4]

Both of Yejong's sons, Grand Prince Inseong and Grand Prince Jean, died without issue. In 1874, during the reign of Gojong, Yi Ong, Prince Seoseong of the Third Junior Rank (서성부정 이옹; 1487–1510) and a great-great-grandson of Sejong the Great, was posthumously appointed as heir to Grand Prince Inseong; similarly, Yi Pa [ko] (이파; 1515–1571), a great-great-grandson of Jeongjong of Joseon, was also granted the title Prince Nakpung (Nakpung Gun; 낙풍군) and became heir to Grand Prince Jean.[5][6][7][8]

Family

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  • Father: King Sejo of Joseon (조선 세조; 16 November 1417 – 2 October 1468)
    • Grandfather: King Sejong of Joseon (조선 세종; 15 May 1397 – 30 March 1450)
    • Grandmother: Queen Soheon of the Cheongsong Shim clan (소헌왕후 심씨; 20 October 1395 – 28 April 1446)
  • Mother: Queen Jeonghui of the Papyeong Yun clan (정희왕후 윤씨; 23 December 1418 – 15 May 1483)
    • Grandfather: Yun Beon (윤번; 1384–1448)
    • Grandmother: Lady Yi of the Incheon Yi clan (인천 이씨; 1383–1456)

Consort(s) and their respective issue

  • Queen Jangsun of the Cheongju Han clan (장순왕후 한씨; 3 March 1445 – 14 January 1462)
    • Yi Bun, Grand Prince Inseong (인성대군 이분; 31 December 1461 – 4 December 1463), first son
  • Queen Ansun of the Cheongju Han clan (안순왕후 한씨; 27 April 1445 – 12 February 1499)
    • Princess Hyeonsuk (현숙공주; 28 March 1464 – 2 July 1502), first daughter
    • Yi Hyeon, Grand Prince Jean (제안대군 이현; 8 March 1466 – 6 January 1526), second son
    • Princess Hyesun (혜순공주; 1468–1469), second daughter
    • Third son (1468–1472)
  • Royal Noble Consort Gong of the Jeonju Choe clan (공빈 최씨; 1454–?)
  • Court Lady Gi (상궁 기씨; ? – 1489)
  • Concubine Yi (후궁 이씨)

Ancestry

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Han, Hee-Sook (2004). "Women's Life during the Chosŏn Dynasty" (PDF). International Journal of Korean History. 6: 159. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Royal Tombs; Seooreung, Onreung, Seosamneung". Cultural Heritage Administration. 27 June 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  3. ^ "Royal Tombs; Seooreung, Onreung, Seosamneung". Cultural Heritage Administration. 27 June 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  4. ^ Jeong, Yoo-Cheol (21 February 2014). 예종의 갑작스런 승하로 왕이 된 성종, 조선 조 첫 수렴청정이 시작되다. Korean Spirit. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  5. ^ 무안대군파 권15(撫安大君派 卷之十五)
  6. ^ 도평군파 권1(桃平君派 卷之一)
  7. ^ 승정원일기（承政院日記） 2783책 (탈초본 130책) 고종 9년 12월 4일 갑인 19/34 기사：「贈吏參李葩贈洛豐君, 齊安大君嫡長子, ……別坐李惶贈晉恩君, 仁城大君嫡長孫, 縣令李慄贈晉禮君, 仁城大君嫡衆孫」
  8. ^ 족보 계보도 - 장서각기록유산Db.
Yejong of Joseon
Born: 14 January 1450 Died: 31 December 1469
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Joseon
22 September 1468 – 31 December 1469 		Succeeded by
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